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ADDITIONAL FACTS 



AND 



1 IS F 11 M ^T ION 




The Catalpa Tree 



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€A TA L pa B TG NONIOIB E8 



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ITS VARIETY'-^ SPECIOSA. 



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THE CATALPA TREE. 



A PAPER READ BEFORE 

THE NATIONAL AGKKJULTURAL COXGJ^ESS, 

At Neiv. Haven, Conn., August i'7fh 1878, 



AND BEFORE 



THE OHIO HORTICULTURAL SOCJETY, 

At Dayton O, December 6', 187S, 

By E. E. BARNEY, of Dayton, Ohio. 



^ 



INTRODUCTION. 

When fir.st informed that the catalpa, a tree 1 had been fa- 
miliar with on our streets for more, than thirty years, possess- 
ed the power to resist decay to a wonderful degree, I was so 
impressed with its great economic value that I deemed it very 
important that a knowledge of its very valuable pro])ertie*^s 
should become widely extended. I have devoted what time I 
could command from the supervision of a large manufactur- 
ing business, for the last eight years, to gathering and pub- 
lishing, from time to time, such facts and information as 1 
have been able to obtain on this subject. 

A year ago, at the request of the president of a leading rail- 
road, I published these facts and information in pamphlet 
form. Since then I have been greatly encourai^ed and aided 
m its general circulation by Dr. Jno. A. Warde^r, President of 
the Ohio Horticultural Society and of the American Forestry 
Association, and Prof. C. S. Sargent, Director of the Botanic 
Garden and Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University, and 
many others. Most efficient aid has been rendered also bv 



4 

The Aincriraii Ac/rlnUturid, The Monthly Garden and Horticidtiirid, 
The Cultivator and Country Gentleman, The Prairie Farmer, The 
Scientifie Anieriean, The Railway Age, The Nation (d Car Bidlder, 
The Ohio Farmer, and The J\>?r York Tribune. Through the 
notices made of the pamphU't, and the articles on catalpa 
jniblished in these periodicals, attention has been awakened 
on this subject to such an extent that I have received letters, 
of inciuiry from every State and Territory in the Union, 
amounting in the aggregate to thousands; also from England, 
South Australia, and New Zealand. As a result, if seed can 
be obtained, enough will be planted the coming Spring to pro- 
chice millions of catalpa trees. During the last two or three 
years several persons have been engaged in the benevolent act 
of distributing packages of catalpa seed to thousands of per- 
sons in the West, notably, Suel Foster, of Muscatine, Iowa; 
,]. F. Tallent, Burlington, Iowa; and Horace J. Smith, Georges 
Hill, Philadelphia. Manv others have been ena:ao;ed in the 
same kindly work, but I have nOt their names. 

The subject has been deemed of sufficient importance to 
justify the occupying of your atteittion with a brief statement 
of some of the facts that have b^en gathered in relation t^ 
catalpa. 

Tnic SizK TO WHICH IT Attains. 

No work that 1 have examined on botany or forestry begins ' 
' to do justice to the catalpa in this regard. One and a half 
and two feet is the largest diameter given in any of the books 
1 have seen. C. H. INIiller, Landscape Gardener of Fairmount 
Park, Pliiladel})hia, writes: "There is a fine grove of common 
catalpa in tlie park, some of them very large, on(> measuring 
thirteen feet in circumference." Arthur Bryant, of Prince- 
ton, 111., has in his grounds a catalpa of the Speciosa variety, 
raised from the seed in 1839, that measures, stump high, three 
feet in diameter. J. M. Bucklin reports catalpa trees in South- 
eastern Missouri, in l.S(5G, tliree and four feet in diameter, and 
fifty feet to a liml), and in a letter received last week I am in- 
formed that plenty catalpa trees of that size are there to-day. 
In the Geological Survey of Indiana, 1873, Prof. John Collet re- 
ports catalpa trees three, four, and four and a half feet in 
diameter. Recently, a man writes me from Southern Illinois 
that he had sawed up catalpa trees three freet in diameter, 
and fifty feet to a limb. lie also sent me catal])a railroad ties, 
among them a section of a limb 8 feet long and \'2^ inches in 
diameter at the small end, cut from the tree forty-five feet 
from the stump. So that in Pennsylvana, Indiana, Illinois, 
and Missouri the catalpa attains to the diameter of three, 
four, and four and a half feet, instead of one and a half and 
two feet as given in the books. 



Its Durability. 

Win. R. ArthiiJ', t'ornievly Siip't Illinois Central Railroad, 
informed me that he had visited with a friend the old home- 
stead, and took up a catalpa gate-post his friend had assisted 
his father to set forty-six years before. They found it as sound 
as the day it was set, no signs of decay whatever. Judge 
Upslier, formerly of Indiana, informed me that old citizens of 
Vincennes had stated to him that the old stockade, built by 
the first French settlers of tliat place, was largely from catalpa 
trees, which grow native in the forests there, and that when 
removed from the ground nearly one hundred years after they 
had been set, were perfectly sound, and gave no indications of 
decay. C. M. Allen, of Vincennes, writes: "During the last 
thirty years I have seen much of catalpa, in fence-posts and 
timber of buildings in contact with the ground, and esteem it 
the most durable of all timber ; in fact it may be regarded as 
imperishable under or lying on the ground." Another gen- 
tleman of the same place says he has fence-posts of twenty- 
two years standing, as firm and sound, apparently, as the day 
they were put in the ground. Catalpa posts set by General 
Harrison about the Governor's house, in 1808, Mr. Pidgeon 
says, were taken uj) a few years ago, and being sound were re- 
set in another place. The early settlers of Knox County, Ind., 
found a catalpa log that had fallen across a stream, and used 
as a foot-bridge until it was flattened on top by the pressure 
of the feet. An old Indian, in answer to the question, how 
long the log had been there, replied, "My father's father cross- 
ed on that log," thus making it a hundred years old. In 
Southern Illinois was another catalpa tree fallen across a 
stream, still sound. A man, now living, says that forty years 
ago an old man told him that he crossed on that log when a 
boy, making it nearly or (juite one hundred years old. This 
log was sawed into boards, and one of thein, perfectly sound, 
was exhibited at the Centennial by Prof. Burrill, of the Illi- 
nois Industrial University. Large catalpa trees, back of New 
Madrid, on the Mississippi River, in South-eastern Missouri, 
killed by the eruptions in 1811, I am informed in a letter re- 
ceived August 10th, from a gentleman living there, are still 
standing, perfectly sound, after 67 years, and to use his ex- 
pression, ])lenty of them. One of these was recently cut down, 
and seven feet of the but and seven feet of the top sent to me. 
The top, tliough worn to a point by the action of tlie wind 
and rain is perfectly sound. The but, though showing on the 
outside the result oi" long exposure, is as sound as it was sixty- 
nine years ago when killed by the eruption. At Poplar Bluft's, 
Henly, the ferryman, had a canoe made of catalpa, three feet 



6 

across the gunwales, perfectly sound, after constant use twelve 
years. 

Capt. Kurtz knows of catalpa trees killed by the ice on the 
bottoms of the Wabash River, in the January Hood of 18-28, still 
standi no-, and sound after fifty years. Prof. John Colh^t says, 
"this timber is universally accredited with wonderful power 
to resist decay and time, and that rails made by Col. r)ecker 
in the year 1800, were in use forty-eight years afterwards, and 
that after diligent inquiry among those familiar with catalpa 
timber for a great number of years, I could find no one willing 
to say it is liable to rot." Fifteen years ago, \V. F. Howell, of 
this vicinity, saw, in the Rural New Yorker^ a statement that 
catalpa was the most durable wood known, and especially 
valuable, and excelling black locusts, red cedar and mulberry, 
in that it had no sap w'ood, so that trees of three or four years 
growtli would not rot when set in the ground for fence stakes, 
hop or bean poles. The above named trees have a larger pro- 
portion of sap wood while young, and therefore are of far less 
value wdiile young. Mr. Howell says he has verified this state- 
ment most fully, on his farm near the Soldiers Home, on which 
a large number of catalpa trees are growing. 

Small catalpa limbs and sprouts of two years' growth, placed 
in the ground to support peas and vines, and used for that 
purpose year after year, show no signs of decay. 

Mr. J. F. Tallent, of Burlington, Iowa, writes that some 
years ago he observed that the trunks of two catalpa trees 
which had stood in the ground for more than twenty years, 
used for clothes-line posts, showed no signs of decav, and be- 
gan to study up the tree from books, from which, and personal 
inquiry and correspondence, he soon learned its great value. 
Some years ago, Suel Foster, of Muscatine, Iowa, observing 
that limbs cut from catalpa trees, after lying on tlie ground 
for years, did not rot like the limbs of other trees, began to 
make inquiries and comparing observations with others, learn- 
ed its great value. 

In 1860, S. H. & J. B. Binkley, living near Alexandersville, 
Montgomery County, Ohio, while repairing a fence with stakes 
and a rider, fell short of stakes. Asa temporary make-shift 
they trimmed up some catalpa limbs, cut from two catalpa 
trees in their yard, and used them for stakes. Five years 
after, the cattle ran against one of these stakes and pulled it 
out of the ground. Greatly to their astonishment they found 
the stake perfectly sound, both in the ground and out. All 
the other catalpa stakes were the same. These stakes, on ex- 
amination last summer, Avere found to be sound, after being 
eighteen years in the ground. 

So well do farmers, in Southern Indiana and Illinois, under- 
stand its value for fence-posts that it has been nearly all cut 



down, where it was formerly abundant, and transported in 
wagons fifty miles or more. One man, who has lar.sce numbers 
of catalpa "trees in his river bottoms, writes me that persons 
living on the uplands come down, cut and haul them awa3^ 
by night, for posts. 

A catalpa gate-post, set in the ground by Col. Decker, of In- 
diana, in 1780, was found to be sound in 1871, after doing duty 
ninety years. Col. Corkum has known catalpa in use without 
a stain of decay after fifty years. A catalpa bar-post was sent 
me from Indiana, after it had stood in the ground seventy-five 
years, by J. S. Miller, of the Indiana Central R. R. It is per- 
fectly sound, as you may see in the samples before me, cut 
from the bottom of the post. Horace J. Hmith, of Philadel- 
phia, writes : " I had occasion to remove and re-set a gate-post 
that had done service thirty years, and found it abundantly 
sound to last indefinitely longer." In 1834, J. M. Bucklin, a 
civil engineer, with Governor Davidson and others of Illinois, 
visited Vincennes, Ind., to get information as to the durability 
of catalpa for bridges. They found their preconceived opinion 
of its remarkable durability fully confirmed. The facts were 
notorious and unquestioned. J. P. Epping, Grahamville, South 
Carolina, writes: "I use catalpa for fence-posts in preference 
to any other wood." Daniel McNiel says that "both in Indi- 
ana and Louisiana, where he has resided, the catalpa is re- 
garded as the most valuable timber, for posts and fencing, on 
account of its great durability.'' 

Capt. Bournes, Falmouth, Mass., says he has used the limbs 
cut from his catalpa trees as stakes in his field fences, and 
thinks it as durable as red cedar. 

President Harrison, in an address, reported in the Prairir 
Fanner in lS4o, says: ''Catalpa is more lasting than locust or 
mulberry, is' indigious on the Wabash and branches, and its 
power to resist decay has been fully tested, both under ground 
and in contact with it. A catalpa log, known to be lying 
over the Desha in 1785 and used as a foot bridge, was in 1840 
but a little decayed. Major Andrew Powell says, '• a catalpa 
bar post made by his father-in-law and set up in 1770, was 
taken up and reset on his farm and was still sound in 184o, 
after being in use seventy-five years." James Clark, of South- 
ern Illinois, writes: "Catalpa posts that have been in the 
ground forty years are still good and still retain the bark above 
ground." James Bell of Southern Illinois, writes, that "catal- 
pa fence posts have been taken up after being in the ground 
forty years, and reset as being good for forty years more. 
That catalpa is much sought after by old settlers for fence 
posts and blocks in ]>lace of stone to set buildings on; has been 
nearly all carried off to the hill country for fence posts." He 
has sent me a fence post and a gate post that had been in the 



8 

ground forty-seven years, from one of which the samples 
shown here are cut. D. Axtell, Superintendent Missouri Di- 
vision of the St. Tvouis and Iron Mountain Railroad, writes; 
"Tn regard to durability of eatalpa it is useh'ss to multiply 
words; fence posts twenty years in the ground are always as 
sound as when first put in, and no decayed catalpa logs are 
ever found in the swamps. A section of a catalpa log known 
to have laid on the ground in the swamps fifty years, is now 
in the office of the land department of the I'oad. in St. I.ouis, 
and is as sound as it evei- was.'' 



Can the C.VT.M.P.V V,E CrLTTV-KTED? 

Xo tree more easily, very few as easily. It can be grown 
from cuttings, but much the more readily from seed. Plant 
in the spring, in warm, rich, light soil, in rows o to 4 feet 
apart, cover lightly one inch unless the ground is liable to 
bake, in which case much less. If pressed for room, H to 2 feet 
apart, placing the seed 8 inches apart in the row, as all may not 
germinate. AVhen a few inches high, thin out to 1 foot in the 
row, transplanting those taken up. At 1 foot apart in the 
row they will make a better growth than nearer, and at that 
distance, if desired, they may be left in the seed bed two years. 
They are more easily transplanted at the end of one year, 
though they may be left in seed bed two or even three years. 
When transplanted, ])lace tliem 4 feet each way. Some prefer 
3 feet by o feet. A year or two after transplanting, if any tree 
is not straight or puts out branches too low, it will make all 
the taller and liandsomer tree if cut down to the ground. 
When the trees are large enough to make fence stakes, hop 
and vineyard poles, cut out eacli .dternate row one way. 
When large enough to make fence posts, cut out each alternate 
row the other way. In from twenty-five to thirty years, on 
good ground, the remaining trees should be large enough to 
make six railroad ties each. The first two cuts should be sawed 
through the middle; the next two being smaller, may be llat- 
tened on two sides. The rounded side of the ties sawed through 
the middle should be placed down ; this can be done, because 
most cataljja trees sliow no sa}) wood, and none more than from 
ji to ^ of an inch, a fact that adds largely to its economic value. 
As catalpa is fully equal to the best whit(> walnut or cork pine 
for any purpose for which they are used, and is susceptible of 
finer finish and higher polish than either; it may pay better 
to let the trees grow till they are two feet or more in diiimeter 
and us(^ th(^ tindter for caliinet work or inside finishing. 



Will Catalpa make a SERvrcKARLE Railroad Tie? 

This is matter of coujccturo in part. I think it will, lor tho 
followinfi; reasons; Its durability is unquestioned; it is v(n'y 
elastic, and contrary to what most suppose, tou.irli. 1 suhjeeted 
pieces of catal])a, oak and ash, one incli sf|uar(\ to a l)reak- 
inii" pressui-(\ twelve inches between supjioi-ts. Tlie catalpa 
broke under a pressure of 70o ]">ounds; ash, S<){) pounds: one 
inevc of oak l)roke at 577, one at 701), and one at 1141 pounds. 
The catal})a defl(H^-ted three times as mucii as the oak or asli 
before brinikinp;. Five thousand ])ounds ])r(>ssui-e on a l)lock of 
oak, thre(^ inches \on<x und one inch s((uai'e. com])ressed it to \l 
of an in(di: a second block was com])ressed to |J!, and a third to 
Th of an inch. The same ]>ressure com])ress(>d one ])iec(> of 
catali)a, same size, to /g, one to i«, one to ,«, and one to ^l. Wdiite 
pine was com])ressod to {l^; Xorway to ,«; whit(> walnut to {,■/, 
yellow pine to ,«; black walnut to J^; and h-,; asli eom])ress(Ml 
one way of the i>-i-ain J^, another ,",. 

These samples were taken at random, and would indicate 
that catalpa will bear the pressure to which it is sul)j(H't<'d 
when used as railroad tics. Two catalpa railroad ties were 
})laced in the track, near our office, hve years aixo, and twelve 
one year a2;o. All hold their s]ukes well, and show no sig-ns 
of masliinu- mo.re than oak each side of them, and over both of 
which heavily loaded trains pass almost hourly. The rond- 
master, who has watched them with much interest, says lie 
has no better ties" on the line of his road. 

1). Axtell, Superintendent of the Missouri division of the 
Iron Mountain Railroad, writes, that •'catal])a ties j)lac(Ml in 
the track of his road ten years ago are })eriectly sound, that the 
i-ail has worn into some of them from one-half an inch to an 
inch, and it has been conelusively ])rov(Mi that the catal))!i is 
far superioi- for ties to white oak or any otlxu' kind of timl)er 
grown in that latitud(-.'' 

Two N'AinETlES OF Catali'A. 

There nvv two varieties of catal])a inOhio, Indiana, Illinois. 
Missouri, Kentucky, and Tennessee, grown for shade, on(^ of 
which at least is native to the forests of the last five Stat(\s. 
They vary fully three weeks in time of blooming. The earlic^r 
blooming, called also Speciosa, and the hnrdy, wh(m grown 
singly, is taller, straighter, with mor(^ compact top, with 
whiter and larger blossoms, and longer and larger seed-])ods, 
hut less in number, and is usually the handsomer tree. After 
a fcw^ years the l)ark grows darker, is furrowed and rough, vv- 
sembling black locust or elm of same age. ft is much more 



10 

hardy than the common variety, and has withstood the severest 
winters up to and even heyond 42° North hititude. 

The later blooming, or common variety, resists the fronts of 
winter usually below 40°. If the young trees of either variety 
freeze, they should be cut down the following spring close to 
the ground. They will shoot up a straight, vigorous stalk, 
and after tliat, most likely, resist the frost. The common va- 
riety, when planted singly, is often leaning, crooivcd, and 
scraggy. lUit ])lanted in groves, grows tall, erect, and makes 
a handsome tree. The bark, when the tree is grown, is light 
silver gray color, comparatively smooth, the outer coat in 
ihikes ()]• scales. There are before me samples of the wood of 
b(.)th varieties, and also samples of the bark. 

CIhows ox Al.mosi' any Sou.. 

While ricdi river bottoms, ])arti('uhirly such as ai'c sul)ject 
to overdow, seem to furnish the most natural soil for catal]:>a, 
it thrives w(41 on almost any soil. J. P. ]\[. Epping, (Iraham- 
ville, S. ('., writes, ''('atal]);i s])rings up in old fields, near 
roads, or in old a1)andonefl ])lantations; seems to like high 
land Avith sandy clay loam best. It only grows s|)ontaneous 
in such places." Robert W. Furnas, Brown ville, Nel)., writes: 
"Grows best on table or second bottom land." G. i\ l^rackett, 
Kansas, writes: "Makes a line tree planted on deep black soil; 
adapts itself to groves, and becomes more luxuriant than in 
open, exposed places." E. Gale, Manhattan, Kan.: "Makes a 
good growth in a forest plat upon a high, gravelly ridge; makes 
a wonderful success upon low, rich l)ottoni lands; grows finely 
on all kinds of land." Wm. G. Burk, Medina, Delaware Co., 
Pa.: "No tree s])rings up along the line of the Philadelphia (k 
West Chcstc^r H. R. so freely, or grows more rapidly." Horace 
.T.Smith, Philadelphia: '''I'hc catal])a flourislies remarkably 
well on railroad embankments, roadsides, and other newly 
turned up ground. On the spoil barren dirt of (puuvries, of the 
hills, and on the raw clay of Philadelphia level meadows, be- 
fore any other vegetation takes hold, the catalpa plants itself 
and grows finely." Charles Mohr, Mobile, Alabama: "Thrives 
wonderfully well on our light soil." Joseph Kirk, ^[orrill. 
Brown County, Kan. : "Have a catalpa tree of the early va- 
riety, seven years old, that is seven inches diameter two feet 
from the ground. The catali)a is a very fast grower here." 
Robert Millikan, Emporia, Kan.: "Grows through the central 
and Southern part of the State with the greatest luxuriance, 
on second bottom, low upland, river bottoms, and high upland." 
.1. W. Foster. Livingstone, Pratt Co., Kan.: "My catalpa seed- 
lings stand the dry weather very well, and grow finely." D. 



11 

Axtell, Charleston, Mo.: "Catalpa, in South-eastern Missouri, 
is found native only in heavy, stiff soil, subject to overflow, 
though it thrives well when planted in dry places/' 

A. M. Chapman, Apalachicola, Florida, writes: ''Catalpa 
growls here, but is too small a tree for any useful purpose." 

J. H. Foster, Pratt County, Kansas: "Catalpa seedlings 
stand the dry weather very well." 

James Bell, UUin, Illinois : " I took from the forests, catalpa 
trees two years old, in 1869, one and a half inches at the ground 
and planted on high hill land, in 187«S they measured twenty- 
four to twenty-eight inches six feet from the ground. They 
had but little root when planted." 

E. P. Morey, Sterling, Kansas, "Planted catalpa seed May 
25tli, that made a fine growth of two feet high and three- 
fourths of an inch in diameter. 

Robert W. Furnas: "My grove of six thousand catalpas 
three years old are from ten to fourteen feet high. Twelve 
years ago I set out quite small catalpas, for shade, about six 
feet high. They now measure forty-one indies in circum- 
ference." 

Prof. T. J. Burrill, Urbana, Illinois : " I have just measui-ed 
a common catalpa of nineteen year's gi'owth, grown in ordinary 
prairie soil, and find sixteen and one-half intdies across the 
stump. The last twelve years it inci-eased over fourteen 
inches in diameter." 

J. F. Tallant, Burlington, Iowa: ''My catalpa trees two 
years old are sound, even to extreme tip, ha\ing withstood the 
frost when the mercury was 80° l)elow zero; though on a dry 
clay hill, with thin soil, grew four feet the tirst year, in a very 
dry season; the second, a rainy one, they grew so rapidly as to 
be ten feet high and two inches diameter/" 

In Marshall C^ounty, Illinois, are severii! gi'oves ol" Si»e('iosa 
catalpa, planted in the prairie twelve to sixteen years ago. 
They are all very sti'aight, thrifty, liandsonie trees. 

The catalpa seems wonderfully well adapted to the soil and 
climate of Ohio, Kentucky, Tennesse, Indiana, Illinois, Mis- 
souri, Iowa, Kansas, and X(^braska, and gi'ows luxuriantly on 
most scnls in these States. 



C O X C L U S I () X . 

Such are a few of the facts I have gathered, and tried to im- 
part to othei's. From them it seems to me clearly shown that 
the (catalpa occupies a. prominent position among the trees 
that should be cultivated. It can be so easily i>i-o))ogated ; so 
readily cultivated t)ver so large an extent of territoi-y; it is so 
rapid in its growth; it is of such economic value, not alone 



for its (lui'al)ility, when exposed to moisture, but also for all 
l)urposes for which white walnut and white cork pine, the two 
woods that season the quickest and keep their place best, may 
l)e used, tliat 1 do not know any tree that presents higher 
claims for ireneral cultivation. From the experiments I have 
iiiade, tliei'e is no one tree I would as soon use for the entire 
structure of a passenger car, including sills, plates, posts, and 
the entii-e frame work, also for outside and inside tinish, as 
eatal])a. 

What T liave said, 1 think, shows that the tree is Avorth a 
most careful study. There is very much that needs to be 
known about it. I liave arranged with horticulturists of thir- 
ty years experience ^vitll catalpa, to visit several places wdiere 
it grows native in the forests, also some groves of catalpa grown 
from tlie seed, to gather such facts as may guide in its success- 
ful cultivation. 

Any on(^ having any facts or information pertaining in any 
way to catalpa, will confer a favor on the public if they will 
communicate them to me. There has been such a demand for 
a pamphlet I pu])lished last January, on the catalpa, that the 
edition is nearly exhausted. I hope to reprint a portion of 
this with sucli other tacts and information as I may obtain up 
to that tim(\ L wish to make this as full and complete as may. 
be, for the benefit of the j)ublic, and therefore ask its aid in 
gathering these facts and this information. 



]:'. 



THE CAT ALP A. 



Prof. (J. S. Sargent, of the Arnold Ai'boretum and Botanic 
(Jardens of Harvard rniversity, has kindly furnished tlie fol- 
lowing: ]^aper : 

K. E. Baknky, Es(^ : 

.SV?-.- r have examined with nuieh intei'est the various speci- 
mens of eatalpa wood, with which you have favored me at 
different times. 

J find that the specific gravity of the wood of the common 
(Vital pa hignoniolde^ \>^,^\\\Q\i perfectly dry, .405; and that the 
specific gravity of the wood of the early blooming variety, also 
perfectly dry, is .462.* The ratio of weight of any wood"^to the 
weight of an equal body of water, that is its specific gravity, 
gives in many respects the surest indication of its value for 
construction a nd fuel. But to show the relative value of eatalpa, 
it will be well to compare its specilie gravity with that of some 
better known or standard woods. 

Specilie gravity of common (/atalpa, .405. 

" '' " earlv blooming Catalpa, .462. 

'' " Eastern Hickorv, MS. 

White Oak, .662. 

American Elm, .649. 

Rock Elm,t .882. 

Black Walnut, .577. 

Canoe Birch, .539. 

Wild Cherry, .488. 

" Ailantlius, ' .614. 

By this compai-ison it will be seen that catalpa is inferior 
in weight, and consi^qucMitly in sti'ength and heat-giving qual- 
ities, to (^ven such soft wootls as the black walnut, the canoe 
birch, or even the wild eheri-y, which up to this time is the 



u 




u 




i(. 




u 





-These specitic gravities have been calculated by Mr. S. P. Sliarpless, state Assayer of 
.Massachusetts. 

\Ulrnus racemoaa. — Thomas. 

/ 



14 

liijhtest of American hard wuud.s, whit-li L have ('xaiiiin(:;d 
c-ritieally. It is remarkable that so soft and light a wood as 
the catalpa should possess the power of resisting decay to a 
degree almost nnkn-own in the hardest and heaviest woods. It 
is unnecessary for me to dwell at this time on th(^ indestructi- 
ble nature of this wood, for so many examples of its wonderful 
durability have of late been brought to public notice that the 
fact is now established beyond question. But why the soft 
wood of this fast growing tree, which is traversed with large 
open ducts, nearly as broad as those of red oak, a wood which 
notoriously rots very quickly, should be able to resist decay to 
such a degree is not clear; and this fact presents an interest- 
ing problem, which the chemist or the vegetable physiologist 
may perhaps be able to solve. 

As fuel the catalpa has but little value. For the cabinet 
maker or the architect it will rank with such North Ameri- 
can hard woods as the cherry, the black walnut, the ash, and 
the butternut. The wood is close grained, very easily worked, 
and susceptible of an excellent polish. In color and general 
appearance it resembles chestnut, bat unlike chestnut it is 
easily '' tilled," and shows none of the tendency to warp or 
start, which renders that wood untit for the best cabinet work. 
It is, however, for fence and telegraph posts, hop and vine- 
yard poles that the wood of the catalpa has no known e pial 
among exti'a-tropical woods. It is for these, und (^thci- (em- 
ployments, where a cheap material capabh' of resisting decay, 
when exposed to the action of thi^ soil and weathc^r, is re(juir- 
ed, that catalpa can be more profitably employed than the 
wood of an)' other tree suitable for cultivation ovei- so large 
an area of the United States. Catal])a wood s(H-ms jtarticu- 
larly suited for the manufacture of coflins, for w hi'-h pui-pose 
it promises to riva^l the famous Xaii-nui wood of the Chinese; 
and it is not altogether improbable that befoi-(^ many years, 
we may see large quantities of (catalpa exported to China to 
take the place of that scarce and high-])i-iced material for the 
consti'uction of coflins. Incidentally, it is suggested that 
catalpa may prove an excellent material from which to nuike 
permanent garden- labels. Much has been said in various 
quarters of the excellence and durability of catal])a railway 
ties. Of the power of this wood, wIumi so employed, to i-esist 
decay, there can be no doubt. But whether a soft wood like 
the catalpa will bear the crushing and wearing of the rails, 
or hold spikes as well as harder woods, like white oak and 
chestnut (the best materials from which American ties are 
made), only cai-efuUy conducted comparativt' experiments can 
demonstrate. Such experiments, by which the comparative 
value of the several woods used or rcM-ommended for i-ailway 
ties is to be fairly tested, have been lately inaugurated both 



15 

in Massachusetts and Ohio; and information is expected from 
them which will lead to important practical results. 

The catalpa can he safely planted in strong, rich soil, in any 
portion of the United States soutli of th(> 42d parallel. Fur- 
ther Xorth it often suffers in severe winters; especially when 
young; and in the New Kngland States, exce])t in a few ex- 
ceptional situations, tli(> soil is not rich enough to make the 
planting of this tree as profitahle as that of many others het- 
ter suited to reach maturity in this section of the country. 
For that portion of the treeless region of the West, south of 
the 42vd parallel, especially for Kansas and Southern Nehraska, 
I am satisfied that no tree, which has yet heen suggested for 
general planting there, will at all equal the catalpa, either in 
the rapidity of its growth or the value of its wood, with the 
single excej^tion, |)erlia})s, of the Ailanthus. 

The growth of the (;atal|)a in the rich prairie soil is sim[)ly 
astounding. I have now liefore me a specimen cut from a 
tree which grcAv at Bro\vnsvill(>, Nehraska, and which shows 
hut four annual layers of growth fi'om the seed. It is 9-f 
inches in circumference, and the growth of the first two years, 
l^ inches in diameter, is already changed into heart Avood. 

During the autumn of 1877, the Missouri River, Fort Scott c^-- 
Gulf R. R. commenced experimental plantations of various 
trees on their land, near Fort Scott, in Kansas. The super- 
intendent of the road, in his report to the president (m the 
condition of these plantations at the end of their first year, 
says: "The catalpa has certainly proved to he the strongest 
grower, and most tenacious, standing the dry weather hefter 
than other varieties, and at present rate will come to maturity 
vears hefore other varieties are of sufficient size to ho of anv 
utility.'' 

I have s.iid that as fuel the catalpa is of little value. Such 
a statement is c()m|)arativc rather than ahsolute. As com- 
pared with the cotton Avoods, hox elders, or white maples, 
which have heen heretofore almost exclusively planted on the 
prairies, it is of very great value; and, though not yet proved 
to he the equal of white oak or chestnut for railway ties, it 
is far superior to any other tree which can with certainty he 
grown quickly and profitahly, where there will always he the 
greatest scarcity of material for ties, namely, in those States 
watered hy the Missf)uri and its trihutaries. 

I add a few brief and simple characters of the only Catalpas 
now known, which can he cultivated in the United States 
North of the extreme Southern portion of Florida, in the hope 
of aiding horticulturists to more readily determine the various 
species now quite generally cultivated, and in regard to which 
there seems to he much confusion. 



16 

1. CafaJpn hif/novioidr.^. — W;i1t. 

Leaves ovate, heart-shaped at the hase, pointed, and rarely 
somewhat lobed. Flowers white, tin<T;ed with piirph' and dot- 
ted wdth purple and yellow in throat; appearing (at the North) 
from the 1st to the middle of July. Pods nearly eylindrieal, 
or often somewhat flattened, rarely ever one foot in length. 
Seeds 14 inches long, their wings gradually narrowed to sharp 
points, and ending in tufts of long, white hairs, ofton an inoh 
in length. Bark thin, sealy, silver gray. 

2. The "Early Flowering" Catalpa. 

This can be distinguished from Xo. 1 by its more gradually 
pointed leaves, its larger white Howers, apjti'aring (in Ohio) 
during the first week of June; l>y its larger and mucli (latten- 
ed pods, often 16 to bS inches, long, and with much thicker 
walls; by its shorter, broader seeds, witli wings of e(]ual 
width to their rounded ends, which are terminated by a c()])i- 
ous fringe of stouter hairs; and l)y its darker and thicker, fur- 
rowed bark. 

1 have alr(^[i(ly sliown that the wood of this form is consider- 
ably heavier than that of the ordinary catalpa. F'urther in- 
vestigation is necessary to determine whether this is a dis- 
tinct species, or only a well-marked form of Catalpa hignonioide>^, 
and connected with it l)y intermediate forms. If distinct it 
should be known as C. spcclom. 

:^). C. Kauaplicri, 1). C Native of Japan. 

Leaves smaller than in the American species, ovate, heart- 
shaped at thc! base, abruptly sharp- pointed and often with one 
or more sharp-])()inted lateral lobes. Flowers smaller than in 
th(^ American species, spotted with pur])l(\ sweet-sciMited, ai»- 
peai'ing (near Boston) during the first Aveek of July, l^xls 
al)out one foot long, cylindrical, slender, not more tlian ^ of 
an inch in diauK^ter. Seeds much smaller than in the xVmeri- 
can speci(»s, the wings short, blunt, and (Miding in a copious 
fringe of soft white hairs; the seed and its appendages rarely 
.•f of an inch long. Bark in young plants thin, scaly, light 
gray. 

1 have no information of the size this tree may attain un- 
der favoral)le conditions, although it is s|)oken of as a small 
tvoo in all Avorks on Japanese botany. Near Boston it is rather 
haj'dier than the American species, and flowers and ripens its 
truit freely when not more than twelve feet high. F have no 
information whatever as to the economic value of this s])ecies. 



17 

4. Catalpa Bvmgei, C. A. Mey. Native of Xorthern China. 

Leaves much smaller than in No. 3, oblong, ovate, wedge- 
shaped at the basejYery gradually tapering in to a long, sharp 
point. Flowers smaller than in the other species, color un- 
known to me, but probably white. Fruit unseen by me. 

C. Bungei is said to become a tree, but it only appears in 
cultivation in this country as a spreading bush, eight to ten 
feet high, and sometimes twenty feet in diameter. 1 have 
never heard that it has flowered in this country, anrl I am 
ignorant of the quality of the wood it may produce. 

C. S. SARGENT. 
Camhridgr, ,1/a.s^'., Dec. .-o, /S?S. 



Dr. Warder's Report on the Catalpa. 



THE CATA-LI'A (Jussieu)- 

Natnnil faiiiily Bignoxiace.e. 

(■JcMius Catalpa (Juassieu), Sc-upoli, Eiidliclici-. 

Synonim : Bigiionia (Micliauxl. 
There are six species : 

1. Catalpa Biononioides (Walter); U. S. 

Syii.: Syriii<j;cef()lia (Sims, Pursh). 

(V.rdifolia (NiUtall, Elliott, Duliainel). 

Bi.unonia Catali)a (Michaiix, Willdenow, Linna^usl. 

1>. Americana (I)uhamel). 

ivavvarra Fisapi (KaMiipfer ), according to Sieioonie. 

2. Catalpa iono:issima; W. Indies. 

Syn.: C. longisili(iua. 

.'{. Catal])a punctata; W. Indies. 

4. Catalpa hirsuta; Brazil. 

5. Catalpa Bungei ; China. ^ 
(). Catalpa K;empt'cri; Jai)an. 

This conspectus is after Hooker and otlier botanists of eminence, and 
was prepared with the valuable assistance of ]\ressrs. Geo. Vasey, A. P. 
Morgan, and others. 

Our own native Catalpa, or Catalpas, alone are now to be considered. 
This report will relate to their range and habitats in nature, and indicate 
the limits to which the trees have been extended by human agency in 
our own and other countries. Reference Mill also be made to the char- 



18 

acters of the two distinct kinds we have in cultivation, their respective 
merits, as to habit and hardiness for economic planting, the methods of 
their propagation, and treatment, also to tlie character rtf the timber and 
its value in tlie various purposes to which it has been and may Ije ap- 
plied. 

This paper has been epitomized from a much larger and fuller memoir 
of the tree, which was found to be too voluminous for the present occa- 
sion ; it will briefly treat of the catalpa bignonioides of Walter, and of its 
western congener, but recently recognized as a distinct variety or per- 
haps species, and known in Ohio as the Speciosa variety since 1853, as 
the Early Blooming, and in Iowa as the Hardy Catalpa. The typical 
tree, that from which the species was formed, is spoken of as the Georgia 
Catalpa, from its earliest known habitat ; it is often referred to as the 
common kind, and as the eastern kind, in contradistinction to our favor- 
ite western tree, which is considered so very superior in form and hardi- 
ness, that it alone is recommended for extensive propagation and plant- 
ing tV)r economical purposes. 

At the request of Mr. E. E. Barney, and as a labor of love, the seri- 
ous and extensive investigation of the habitats of these plants has been 
undertaken within a iew months. By the kind assistance of many cor- 
respondents in numerous States, accompanied, in many instances, with 
samj)les of the fruit and seeds trom various parts of the country, a large 
collection of these has been gathered, and they have proved of great 
value, as aids in settling the range and the native habitats of the two 
kinds, the eastern and the western, which, though not absolutely settled, 
it is believed will be found on the eastern and western slopes of the 
Appalachian w^ater-shed, toward the southern extremity of that moun- 
tain range. 

The history and description of the species, or the Eastern Catalpa, has 
been very fully set forth by the botanists; though for a long time after it 
had been introduced into cultivation, and after it had been spread all 
along the Atlantic coast, and was known in every town, as we are told, 
from Louisiana to Massachusetts, few of the writers had ever seen the 
tree in its native wilds. It was indeed for a long time a question whether 
it was really indigenous any where within our borders. Meanwhile the 
tree had been taken to Europe and was ])lanted in many t-ountries; and 
as the po})ulation of the United States ]>rogressed westward, this catalpa 
accom|)anie<l or foll<^wed, until it has reached far out into the })lains 
West of the ^Missouri River, crossing over and beyond the native range 
of its western congnmer, and even mingled with it in some i)laces, so that 
both kinds may often be seen side by side in the same avenues or groups 
of planted trees. This P^astern Catalpa has been so widely j)lanted that 
it may well have been called the common kind. 

The earliest accounts we have of the Western Catalpa, were reports of 
the observations (juoted by ^Nlr. Nuttall from Ceneral Harrison, who made 
its acquaintance when residing at Yincennes, Indiana, as ( iovernor of 
tlie Xorth-western Territory, but it does not seem to have been sus])ected 
that this was different from the well-known eastern tree, for which the 
species, bignonioides, had been erected by Walter. 

The attention of the writer was called to the showy flowers of this, the 
early l)looming kind, by his fi-iend, Jno. C. Teas, of Indiana, who re- 
ferred him to the streets of Dayton, Ohio, where it had ])een proj^agated 
and planted tpiite extensively by the late Dr. Job Haines. . These were 
visited when in bloom. In 1853 it was described and presented to the 
l^ublic in tlie columns of the Western Hortkultvral Berietr, published in 
Cincinnati, Ohio. 

As a variety name, it was called Speeiofta on account of its large an<l 
showy flowers. A further study, especially within the past few months. 



19 

inclines the writer to believe that this catalpa may be worthy of being 
erected into a species ; in this opinion some eminent botanists concur, 
and they have kindly promised their valuable assistance in diagnosing, 
the plant when again in blossom. The peculiarities observable in the 
fruit-pods and seeds, which prove most valuable means of discriminating 
between the two kinds, were suggested by Mr. R. Douglas, of AVaukegan, 
Illinois, whose long experience, and his acumen in the observation of 
these organs, has enabled him to detect characters that might have been 
overlooked bv a less observant eye. 

The earlier history of this Dayton group has never been traced beyond 
the two trees from which Dr. Haines first gathered seed for propagation — 
but it is now clear, that as they are the same with those found in the 
delta lands of the Mississippi, they were of the western stock. They 
may have come to Ohio independently, or possibly through General Har- 
rison, who, on retiring from office, brought plants to his home at North 
Bend, Ohio, some of which were distributed, and those of his own plant- 
ing, with their self-sown progeny, are still to be found in that neighbor- 
hood almost naturalized. 

From one or other of these groups, this form of catalpa was sent from 
Cincinnati to Massachusetts many years ago, and trees are now to be 
seen near Falmouth, as reported by Mr. Jos. S. Fay, whose timber plant- 
ings at Wood's Holl have been very successful. 

Mr. Arthur Bryant, Sen., of Princeton, Illinois, gathered catalpa po<is 
at New Madrid ill 1839, from which he grew trees of this variety, and he 
has since propagated and distributed plants, which have been very suc- 
cessful in Northern Illinois and elsewhere, in places that were not adapt- 
ed to the eastern kind. On his grounds plants spring up_ naturally from 
self-sown seeds, showing their adaptation to the prairie soil. 

Mr. John Litchfield, after settling on the prairie in Middle Illinois, 
South of LaSalle, procured seeds of the catalpa from his old home in 
Vanderburgh County, Indiana, from wdiich he has planted groves that 
have been "very successful. They are all of the Speciosa— not a single 
tree of the specific type was to be" found in the neighborhood. 

The Omaha group'has been received by a circuitous route. Many years 
ago a traveler visiting a friend in Washtenaw County, Michigan, left a 
seed-pod that he had brought from Kentucky. Ignorant of its character, 
Mr. Bennet planted the seeds, and from him Mr. Joel T. Griften purchas- 
ed two plants that were taken to his home near Omaha, Nebraska, where 
they have been multiplied and are scattered in that region. 

The Iowa group has been traced directly to the Dayton trees by 3Ir. 
Suel Foster, who procured them from a trader who had brought them 
from the ]»Iessrs. Teas, then nurserymen of Indiana. It is curious to 
observe how universally other nurserymen have introduced the eastern 
form, and how widely "it has been disseminated through these western 
States at the expense of the native Speciosa. 

The Habitats of the Catalpas. , 

The Species: — In his work upon the American Forest Trees, Mv. 
Michaux referred to several i)laces where this tree had been found in 
the upper parts of Georgia and Carolina; following these indications, 
Nuttall wrote that at one of the habitats thus indicated, near Columbus, 
(Georgia, he ''for the first time in his life, beheld this tree decidedly na- 
tive, forming small, haggard, crooked trees, leaning fantastically over the 
rocky banks of the Chatta-hoot-shee River." Correspondents in Georgia 
and "Alabama have referred to tlie catalpa as being founcl along the 
streams, cieaily indigenous, and they describe it as a tree of large size. 
All the seeds received from that region, whethei- from wild or cultivated 



20 

trees, are of the eastern kind. Indeed it is l)elieved that all of the plants 
now found on the eastern tlank of the Alleghenies are of that stock, 
except a few in ^Massachusetts whicli were sent from Cincinnati ; tiiough 
others may yet be identified that have a western origin and form. 

The habitats of the western plant will now be indicated. The tree is 
found on the bottom lands of the Wal)ash and its tributary, the White 
River of Indiana, on the lower Ohio and its tributaries, the Cumberland 
and the Tennessee, as well as the Wabash, the Little Wabash, the Saline, 
the (Jache, and other streams. It is also found on the extensive swampy 
region of the Mississii)pi about New Madrid, in South-eastern INIissouri 
and the adjoining portion of Arkansas, as well as in the neighboring low 
lands of the western portion of Kentucky and Tennessee, particularly 
along the (.)bion Kiver. 

In all this region of silty soil known as the iX'lta country, the forests 
produce this particular catalpa, the locality being in these six neighbor- 
ing States. It has also l)een found l)y Mr. Teas, on the Arkansas Elver 
near Little Kock, and on the waters of the Red Kiver near the south- 
western ])()rtion oi Arkansas, and presumably it exists on most of the 
tril)Utaries of the lower portions of the Great River; to which region, 
however, these recent special investigations have not been extended. 

In all the territory above indicatecl, which has been critically explored, 
the Speciosa variety alone has been discovered in a state of nature — not 
one of the Georgia kind, the recognized species, C. hignonioideSj of Walter, 
has been seen except where planted by the hand of man. 

It is now so fully demonstrated that there are in nature and in cultiva- 
tion two distinct trees that it may be well to point out their differences. 
This will be done as mucli as possible in popular teniis. 

Diagnosis of the Two Forms. 

The species, the native of Georgia, or' the common Catalpa : 

Tree. — As descril)ed by the botanists, usually low-branched, short-stem- 
med when in open lands, often leaning. When planted in thick groves 
the stems l^ecome taller, Init are seldom really straight. Young plants 
often winter-killed, and older ones frequent!}^ injured North of lati- 
tude 40 and 41 N. on the West of the Alleghenies. 

Bark — Gray, and in mature trees, or those of ten or twelve years or more, 
it is scaly, and easily detached in small, thin plates. 

JA'dves — Similar in ]ioth kinds, but in their young state having less of the 
purple tinge that is common in those of the Speciosa; at maturity 
they are a shade darker. 

Flowers — As represented in Michaux' plate, white, tinged with violet, 
having purple and yellow spots inside the throat of its bell-shaped 
corolla; fragrant, — blooms come later by from one to three weeks 
than the western form. 

Fruit — Usually very abundant, pods from 8-15 inches long, somewhat 
flattened, the valves meeting at an angle form a ridge that can be felt 
when it is rolled between the thumb and linger, hence the section is 
lenticular; the surface is slightly uneven, somewhat grooved in some 
specimens, color light brown, especially on trees cultivated in this 
latitude ; the pods received from Georgia and Alabama, are darker. 

Seeds — Applied end to end in one or more layers to a rather flat and 
gi'ooved placenta or pith. They are winged as described, in their 
entire length, from one to one inch and seven lines, breadth two 
lines; average 100 seeds to a pod. The coma or fringe of hairs pro- 
jecting from each end, is sharply pointed as though they had been 
wetted and drawn together. 



21 

The variety Speciosa, or Western Catalpa: 

Tree — More erect, naturally groAving taller, and better furnished with 
limbs when exposed to the Ught. In thick groves, erect, straight 
and tall, often fifty feet high to limbs, which are not unfrequently 
broken in tlie forests when old. In cultivation this is more hardy 
than the species. 

Bark — In young trees is light gray, becoming darker with age. Adhering 
closely, and moderately furrowed vertically, thicker, because it does 
not scale off, and in old trees it may become quite dark. 

Leaven — Like the other, but of a paler tint of green ; when first expand- 
ing on young seedlings they often have a dull, livid hue. 

FIoiverK — Much larger, nearly ])ure white, markings in the throat clear 
yellow and purple, very showy, and expancHng from one to three 
w^eeks earlier. 

Fruit — Often less abundant, |)ods usually larger jind longer, 15-20 and 
more inches, cylindrical, 6-7 lines in diameter. They are generally 
of a darker brown color, and usually marked with distinct parallel 
grooves extending their entire length. 

Seetls — Decidedly winged and fully fringed at both ends — heavier and 
larger than the s^^ecies, and wider, 4 lines. The texture of the mem- 
brane and tuft is more silky, compared with the satiny and harsher 
• tissue enveloping the seeds of the species, or common catalpa. 

R.AN(4E AND Relativp: Hardixess. 

Let us now take a glance at the range to which these trees have l)een 
taken in their migrations, and w^e shall see that they diflfer in their rela- 
tive hardiness. This is a very important consideration to the practical 
tree-planter who is looking to the production of groves for economical 
purposes. In the milder climate of Western Euro])e our trees may reach 
a much higher latitude than here. Thus we find tliat the Georgia Catalpa 
thrives in the South of France and in Italy. Its limbs or twigs are some- 
times cut by frosts in Paris, where, however, it has attained fair propor- 
tions. It has grown to a good size at Vienna, Austria. Dr. F. Brendel, 
of Peoria, Illinois, to whom the writer acknowdedges indebtedness for 
many l)otanical references relating to the genus catalpa, has just written 
that in 184(3 he collected flowering specimens in Bamberg, Germany, 
latitude 50 X., and 700 feet above the sea. The trees w^ere then about 
ten inches diameter, and he thinks they were of the eastern kind. In 
the South of England it has grown well, blossoming in London at mid- 
sunnner, but rarely perfecting its seeds. In Glasgow, Scotland, it is al- 
most an herbaceous plant, not perfecting its woody fiber; and at St. 
Petersburgh, in Russia, it requires the ])rotection of the green-house. 
All these foreign trees are believed to be of the Georgia kind. 

In very eai'ly times, in our own country, this catalpa was planterl for 
(jrnament and shade in all the towns along the Atlantic coast, and it 
may be found even in Massachusetts, where, however, Professor Sargent 
says, though it has survived for 75 and perha})S foi" 100 years, it does not 
always [perfect its seed, and can nut be considered a perfectly hardy tree; 
nor (Iocs lie recommend it to planters there, "exce])t ))erhai)s in favored 
localities, like the valley of the Connecticut." 

In the later edition of Darlington's Agricultural Botany, where it is 
described as a small tree. Dr. Geo. Thurlier, the editor, adds this observa- 
tion: "In the latitude of New York the larger branches, and frequently 
whole trees are killed bv a severe wdnter." 



22 

About Philadelphia, Mr. Meehan, editor of the (uuxlcners. Monthhi, con- 
siders it perfectly hardy, and indeed the writer himself long ago noticed 
that it was becoming naturalized there and springing up spontaneously. 
, From Eli K. Price, Esq., Chairman of the Committee on Trees and 
Nurseries in the Fairmount Park, and a devotee to sylviculture, the fol- 
lowing facts have been kindly furnished: 

"I have been here since 18b), and have known the tree as common 
since that time." He then quotes a catalogue of Dr. Muhlenberg's, dated 
1791, whicli included the eatalpa, but not native. ''There is one growing 
before my window on the north-west corner of Washington .Square, with 
a girth of eight feet, four feet from the ground. This was probably 
planted in the spring of 1816. ••■ * '^ We have one in the 

Fairmount Park, a larger eatalpa, on the west side of the Schuylkill, nov\' 
surrounded by a dense growth of its seedlings." ■■■ ■■' * 

This is a pretty good showing for that side of the mountains; let us 
trace its westward migrations, and look at its deportment on tne other 
slope, in the valleys of the St. Lawrence, the Ohio, the jNIississippi, and 
the Missouri, the Platte and the Kaw rivers, for, \\ith the men of tlie 
Fiast, this south-eastern tree has also followed the Star of Em]>ire, reach- 
ing out into the borders of what used to be called the (ireat American 
Desert, or wdiat is now more appropriately named, smiling Kansas. 

At Rochester, New York, it is not considered ].)erfectly hardy, for it 
"^suffers in severe winters," as reported by Mr. William P)arry; though 
it lives, grows finely, and ])erfects its seed, by which it lias been identified 
and distinguished from the western form. 

At Painesville, in the north-eastern part of Ohio, Mr. J. J. Harrison 
says his trees have not suffered, but appear to be hardy, i)erha])s pro- 
tected by the lake influence. His plants were imported from Franci', 
and the fruit and seed bear a close resend)lance to those received dii-cct 
from Georgia and Alabama, where, it is most probable, M. INlichaux ob- 
tained the seeds he sent home to P>ance, whence tlieir jtrogeny luive 
now been returned to us. 

In the north-western part of this State, however, at Toledo, Ohio, as 
reported by Prof. E. W. E. Koch, the eatalpa is killed to the groun<i al- 
most every winter. All through the sriuthern ])art of this State, and in 
tlie adjoining portions of Pennsylvania, AV^est Virginia, and Kentucky, 
the tree survives, and thrives, though in the middle range of counties, 
and generally on the parallel of 40 degrees and northward, the young 
))lants are sometimes cut to the ground. A similar i-eport may be mad'e 
for Michigan, for Northern Indiana, and Illinois, for Wisconsin, for Iowa, 
Nebraska, and for Kansas, at least North of the Kaw River, as well as 
for the North part of Missouri, and even in St. Louis, in latitude 3G.o7, 
wheref thousands of this kind of eatalpa are to be seen in the streets and 
parks, it is reported, upon the best authority, that they \vd\e suffered in 
severe winters. 

Let us now look at tlie more satisfactory record of the SjX'ciosa Catalpa, 
so far as it has l)een possible to trace its history and beliavior through 
the forced migrations it has made under man's interfering agency. As 
informed by Mr. Jos. S. Fay, of Massacluisetts, this tree was carried from 
Cincinnati, Ohio, twenty-six years ago; it has thriven and grown to good 
size at Falmouth, near the coast, and maintains its high reputation there. 
Some other trees were planted in the same neighborhood forty-live years 
ago, and have attained a large size without injury. 

Seeds taken from Kentucky to Michigan grow well, and are peii'ectly 
hardy on sandy uplands in Washtenaw County, while those on clay lands, 
especially where low, had been injured ; so writes Mr. Joseph Bennett. 
Some of this lot of trees were taken to Nebraska, and were planted on 
the high exposed rolling prairie, near Omaha, where, in the hands of 



Mr. GrifFen, they have proved the nucleus of a. large group of the Western 
T'atalpa in that region. This may, perhaj^s, he considered nearly its 
northern limit along the Missouri River. Still this tree may be recom- 
mended for all the south-eastern quarter of Nel:)raska, if protected by 
wind-breaks of the hardy trees of the country. It appeared to be per- 
fectly hardy on the gi'ounds of Governor Furnas, at Brown ville. 

The existence of the Speciosa Catalpa at Dayton, Ohio, has already 
been referred to; there indeed it is historical; it is nlso found tol)e hardy 
in Golumbus, the capital, and in other places on the same parallel where 
the eastei'n kind has suti'ered to some extent. 

In Fort Wayne, Indiana, the speciosa alone is reported as the catalpa 
that will stand the climate. At Indianapolis, as at Terre Haute, and all 
along that range it thrives, and is considered very superior in habit and 
hardiness to the eastern kind. 

In all Illinois, North of the Illinois River at LaSalle, the speciosa is the 
only kind that can be recdnunended as hardy. It was introduced by the 
veneral)lo tree-})lanter, -\rthur Bryant, Sen., wdio gathered the seeds at 
New ^ladrid in LSHO, planted them at I'rinceton, and has ever since been 
l»ropagating and distributing these trees. He tinds them perfectly hardy 
wliere the eastern kind has succumbed to the winters. The nol)le tree* 
in his door-yard is a beautiful si)ecimen, having grown from seed sown in 
bs;>j, to a bight of forty or more feet, with a beautiful crown spreading 
over an area of equal extent, and supported l>y an erect shaft that meas- 
ures almost three feet in diameter. 

At Waukegan, in the north-east corner of the State, the speciosa sur- 
vives, while some plants of the eastern kind are fre(iuently killed to the 
ground, and are represented l)y a l)unch of s|)routs sjn-inging uj) from 
the base of the dead stem, rarely producing flowers or seed. 

At Galesburgh and other })ointson tliat range, the trees of the speciosa 
catali)a thrive and do well; they are, of course, highly appreciated. 

In Iowa the common kind was first planted. On the grounds of Suel 
Foster, at Muscatine, on the bluffs of the Mississippi, in latitude 41 N., 
they grew well for awhile, and a lot of the sjieciosa variety was i)Ianted 
beside them. The winter of LSoo and ^o(^ proved a c»rucial test, as in the 
following s{)ring these were perfectly sound, while the connnon kind were 
all killed; then and theiv was the survivor christened The Hardy Catalpa, 
and since that tinu' it alone lias been selected by the intelligent planters 
(»f that State, who claim that it is perfectly hardy even beyond latitude 
42 degi'ees, in the bleak climate of their open ])rairies. 

Having now traced the migrations of these two trees, noted their be- 
havior, and learned their relative hardiness over a wide extent of coun- 
try, further discussion is deemed unnecessary, and the intelligent tree- 
l>lanter may be U^ft to his own judgment in the selection of trees for his 



irroves. 



<^rAi,rrY ov the Lfmheh and Uses. 



Little lu'ed here I)e added to the mass (^f facts c(^llected by Mr. liarney, 
and which have already })een presented to the ])ut)lic, to i)rove that this 
lumber is ])ossessed of great economic value, and yet it may be well to re- 
port some observations in support of the statements that have been made. 

The wood of the catalpa is light, and yet sufficiently strong, and it is 
hard (uiough for most ]:>ur])oses of construction. It has been highly 
approved for l)ridge-timbers where it was exposed to the weather; it has 
been the favorite material for fence ])osts in a large tract of country; it 
has been used, in the al)sence of stone, for the foundation supports of 
buildings; it luis been found an admirable material for covering build- 
ings as shingles, and it takes a good surface to receive a beautiful ]>olish. 



24 

with a sufficiently varied grain or figure to make it a desirable wood for 
the inside tinish of our houses. 

Dr. J. Schneck, the botanist of the Lower Wabash, writes, that though 
the trees were formerly very abundant and sometimes very large, the 
supply is noAV becoming exhausted, on account of its high repute for skift' 
building and other purposes, especially for posts, it is in such demand 
that it is carried to considerable distances, and v(M-y often stolen and 
carried otl" l)y night. So in most of the Delta regi(jn tliat has l)een visittMJ. 
the trees which are accessi])le, have been nearly cxlumsted ; this is an 
evidence of its liigh appreciation by the iH'ople. 

On the St. Louis and Iron Mountain Railroad, a part ot whicdi runs 
through this alluvial region, there is a section near ( -harleston, Missouri, 
where a portion of the track was laid eleven years ago on catalpa cross- 
ties, which are yet sound, while the oak ties near them have been twice 
renewed. Some of the fence-posts along side the road, prcsumal)ly of 
oak, have already needed replacing. ' 

Mr. David Axtel, the intelligent engineer, in cliargii of tiiis part ()f the 
road, reports that catalpa holds the si)ikes sutlicicntly well, and he said 
that when the ties had sutlered from masliing after this long use, tliey 
were not rejected, but turned over so as to i)resent a new Vjearing for 
the rail. Some that had been thrown out by the trackmen wei'e eagerly , 
appropriated by them as garden fence-posts where they bid fair to render 
good service for many years. 

Near New Madrid, in the same region, there are many fence-posts 
which have stood and remained perfectly sound for long teruis of years, 
twenty, thirty and forty, or perhaps more, as their value has l)een known 
since the settlement of tlie country. The story of tlu^ (•atal])a trees still 
standing in the water where they were killed by tlie submergence of the 
earthquake in bSJl, which has been looked upon as a traveler's tale, may 
now be fully confirmed by occular demonstratit)n. In those lagoons 
may yet be seen the broken shafts of noble trees that were tlien killed. 
All other species of trees that were submerged by the same catasti'ojjlie 
have crumbled with decay and have fallen into the water long years ago, 
but these grim monuments of that event still remain as silent memorials 
of the disturl)ance of level which caused their death — and there have 
they stood defying the elements and resisting the tooth of time for nearly 
three-fourths of a century, during which many of the truest have been 
cut and removed for economic purposes. 

The peculiar ligneous structure of the catalpa is t()o important to be 
ignored, for though there be no sensible (pialities in the wood to ]>reserve 
it from the attacks of insects and from decay, it is known to he very 
durable and it nuist be possessed of some antiseptic j>roi>erties that escai^e 
the senses and remain to 1)e detected by srientilic investigations. There 
is however a ]»hysical constitutic>n that can be noted by the connnon 
ol)server; this consists in the remarkably small amount of all)urnnm or 
sap-Avoofl, that part of all trees which is most subject to decay. In these 
trees the sap is reduced to the nunimum, l)eing (m\\ one or at most two 
layers of woody fi])er, while all within consists of duramen or heart-wood. 

This fact makes the timber especially valuable for railway construction, 
because a stick of twelve or more inches diameter, instead of being 
hewed into the usual shape, may be s])lit or sawed into two ties, whi<'h 
have the maximum extent of bearing for the i"ail, and, having only the 
bark and a thin layer suljject to decay, when laid w ith its convex surface 
next the soil, the tie is in the best position for tamping. 

There are many subordinate puri>oses to which this lumber may very 
advantageously be api)lied. It will i)e i)articularly desirable for all situa- 
tions where wo(jd is to be used in contact witii humidity in the soil — such 
as wooden drains and culverts. It has been found verv durable when 



25 

used as vine props in the vineyard, and as stakes for supporting the 
riders of our worm-fences. It will prove very valuable on account of 
its durability, if used for the permanent label tallies of the nurserymen. 
Add to this its lightness, and the thinnings after six years' growth may 
be well utilized as poles in the hop-yards. 

PROrAGATIOX. 

The muliiplication of the tree is very easily acc(inipHshed. Though it 
has been grown from cuttings and layers, the better niodr- is to som the 
seeds. The pods should be collected after the fall of the leaf, when suf- 
ficiently dry, and before the seeds fall from the opening valves. Th(n- 
sliould l)e stored in a dry place, and may very easily l)e threshed or 
tramj^ed out at any time during the Avinter, and the seed separateij from 
the piths and shells. It must be secured from the mice. 

The seeds should not bo planted until the earth is warm and well pre- 
pared. They may then be rather thinly strown in shallow drills, al^out 
an inch or two apart, with sufficient intervening space for cultivation be- 
tween the rows; the covering of the seeds should bo light, from a quarter 
to half an inch, according to the present and probable amount of mois- 
ture in the seed-bed. They vegetate at once, and will need to ])e kept 
clear of weeds and grass while small, V)ut their broad foliage soon over- 
comes all intruders. 

The leaves fall with the first frost, and so soon as the tips have harden- 
ed off, it is well to take up the plants with a spade or with the small tree- 
digger plow, and they are ready for storing in cellars, or they may be 
snugly heeled-in out doors, unless immediately shi])ped or planted out in 
their permanent stations. It is most desirable at this time to assort the 
seedlings according to their size, so that all of equal vigor may be planted 
together and make an even growtli in the grove. 

l*LANTATIOXS. 

Having made a proper selection of the variety, no one need liesitate 
attempting a plantation of the catalpa tree within the limits that have 
been pointed out! Though in its native habitats the tree is found in the 
riciiest bottom lands ot our rivers, it seems to thrive equally well on the 
uplands and on soils of very different texture and constitution, when 
planted singly or in avenues, and, so far as we can yet judge from limited 
ol)servations in tlie artificial groves, which have been seen in very difter- 
ent situations. 

The (luestion of grouping or mingling of species arises with this, as 
with every othei- tree, nor have weVet had sufficient experience to de- 
cide W'hether the catalpa should be liiassed alone or mingled with other 
kinds, but the brief experience already had Avould induce a conclusion 
in favor of the former plan. Because of the ra])id groAvth and of the 
broad foliagx^ of these young trees, and perhaps because of their odor, 
other trees do not thrive with them. Several experiments instituted 
for a solution of this pVoblem are noAV in progress, an<l seem to show that 
most other sjjecies will die out when crowded among these, being iniable 
to conq)ete successfully for air and light. 

In tlie prairie countries, where this tree will be hirgely planted for a 
supply of ties. i)osts, and other timber, land should be selected that is 
deep and rich, and such as has already been in cultivation for one or 
more croj)s. This should l^e well plowed in the fall, and may then at 
once he planted, or left to lie fallow over winter. AVhere practicable, the 
former course is reconunended, as the soil is gen<M-ally in l)ett(M\ condition 
then than in spring, 
4 



26 

The planting is a simple affair ; after the surface has been marked out 
with furrows four feet apart, the little trees are drr)pped every three or 
four feet, or at the intersections of the check-rows if the furrows cross; 
the planters follow at once with spades, setting them in the furrows and 
tramping the mellow soil aV»out the roots. As the rows are set a one- 
horse turning plow should f()llr)w to Ijank them u]) slightly. 

In the fall-planting this fuiTow may be made rather heavy so as to pro- 
tect the little i)lants during the winter from heaving by the frost. This 
bank of earth needs to be harrowed down in the sj^ring before the buds 
have started, and this cultivation will destroy a nudtitude of weeds that 
are sprin^dng from the soil. Cultivation should l)e continued at intervals 
during tlie summer, so as to keep the ground clear and mellow, which 
will also encourage the growth of the plants. 

if some of the little trees be crooked or branched, be not concerned, 
for, during the winter or very early in the following spring, they may all 
be cut off together near the surface of the ground, to secure a strong, 
thrifty and even growth the next summer, when, if they have been well 
cultivated up to July, the result will be most gratifying and encouraging. 
There should be an even stand of sturdy trees, averaging not more than 
four feet apart, and reaching a higlit of ti\e or six or more feet, covered 
with broad foliage, so com])letely shading the ground that no further cul- 
tivation will be needed, beyond cutting out a weed here and there during 
the next season. 

The after treatment will consist in the occasional cutting back of a tree 
that may have been bent with the wind when wet, while the succulent 
stem was soft before the dei)Osit of woody fiber in the young shoots. 

Owing to tlie ])eculiar arrangement of the leaves and their buds, the 
natural habit of this plant is to throw out two or three shoots from the 
toj) of the stem which will make a low-l)ranched tree, and close plantin.u- 
is the more necessary to aid in i)reventing such a result. Occasionally it 
may be advisable to cut back all but one for a leader, but when i>lanted 
suiticiently close the forces of nature will generally check and destroy 
all su})erfiuous growths, and produce tall, straight trees. 

Thinning. — This may become necessary in the coming years; but, 
''sufficient tf> the day." In the limited experience and observation of 
artificial groves, so far, this work ai)i)ears to be in a fail' way of being exe- 
cuted by the forces of nature, without the necessity for liuman interfer- 
ence. 

Insects. 

The almost universal testimony in regard to the catal])a tree, and often 
cited in its favor by amateur cultivators, is that it is not troubled by in- 
sects. These pests' have not been known to attack either the foliage or 
the woody fiber of those which are cultivated in this latitude. 

Wherever groAvn, the wood that has fallen under the writer's notice is 
entirely free from all traces of injury or invasi<:>n l»y the larva^ of beetles 
or other insects. 

But the fruit, particularly the pith of the pods, has been found dis- 
organized and consequently the seeds were defective. This injury is 
supposed to l)e caused by tlie larva of a small fty — species unknown. 

in its native habitats, both western and southern, the foliage is eaten 
to such an extent as to strij) the trees at mid-summer. This is done by a 
large greenish naked caterpillar. On all the southern streams this is 
known to th<^ fishermen as the favorite bait for catching Ijream ; one cor- 
respondent described them as l)ecoming six inches long at full growth. 

Dr. J. Schneck, of Mt. Carmel, Illinois, cites the ravages of this cater- 
liillar^as'one^reason why the tree has not been cultivated in that region. 



27 

It is quite common upon the trees about Vincennes, Indiana, and it 
has migrated to those at Flora, Ilhnois forty-three miles west, where 
catalpas were planted by Mr. L. B. Parsons, Pi-esident of the Ohio and 
Mississippi Railway, who was unwilling to liave the trees ruined, and 
destroyed the insects by applying Paris Green and water with a garden 
syringe. 

' After seeking for sometime in vain for information as to the scientific 
classilication of this insect, which is entirely unknown to our region, the 
neetlful information was promptly sup})lied ])y Professor C. V. Rile}', 
United States Entomologist at Washington, District of Columbia, who 
identitied it as the SphiiLv CntoJpa, of Boisduval. He says it is one of the 
most beautiful of the tribe. 

Tlie accounts of tlie Rocky Mountain Locusts' behavioi' when meeting 
catalpas on the plains, are quite contradictory, some correspondents de- 
clare that the hoppers give this plant a wide berth, while others say that 
they luxuriate upon the succulent leaves, and then eat the bark and 
even the wood fiber of young plants. 

Before concluding this report, it may be well to remind the reader that 
pains have been taken to point out that we have in America two dis- 
tinct catalpa trees, one of which appears to be peculiarly western, and 
that it is possessed of qualities that especially adapt it to our use in form- 
ing artificial groves for economical purposes. It is su])erior in its habit 
and in its hardiness. The timber of one may be equally durable as that 
(»f the other, and may resemble it in every particular, and yet the tree- 
planter may ask which will be more available for his purpose, when he 
undertakes to grow the trees for practical application in the arts. 

Having distinctly set forth the differences that exist between them, 
the writer leaves every one to make his own selection, but he desires to 
impress upon the readers the propriety of their trying other trees in jilan- 
tations, also, and not to expect all excellence in any one kind. We have 
a noble sylva, a rich inheritance of trees of man}- kinds, with properties 
that adapt them to the various requirements of the arts of civilization, 
and witii characters and constitutions that ada])t them to various soils, 
climates and elevations. Some are peculiarly adapted to almost e\'ery 
portion of our extended country. 

Think not, that we, who have been so much interested in the catalpa, 
i^nd who have so warmly introduced it to you, would recommend you to 
plant nothing else; far from it, we plant many kinds and we advis(> you, 
and all others, to use your own good judgment in the selection of tin- 
several kinds that may be, and such as are su])])osed to be, best adapted 
to your own conditions. 

Perhaps in the rich prairies of the west you may prefer to plant the 
Cotton-woods, Box-elders, White-willows, and similar trees of their class ; 
plant them, then, only plant trees; you will have the benefit of theii- 
shade, shelter and fuel, and with these you have a preparation for more 
extended sylviculture with a more extended range of varieties. In such 
situations, you may feel assured that no trees will be likely to make 
quicker returns nor of greater pecuniary value, than the one Avhich lias 
now been presented for your consideration — The W^estern or Hardy 
Catalpa. 

The greatest, the largest and most extensive plantations of forest trees 
in our country must be made by the great railway corporations. They 
wiiralways need supplies for maintaining their lines; they can furnish 
the necessary transportation from the several points of production to 
those of consumption, and very many of them are at present the greatest 
land holders. Surely it is incumbent upon them to take a deep interest 
in everything that relates to the subject of forestry, which will ere long 



28 

exert no small influence in the development oi their immense domains, 
all whieh will retro-act upon the interests of their business. 

The managei's of many of these cori)orations do seem to appreciate the 
importance of tree-planting, and some liave even begun operations along 
their lines upon a scale commensurate (as initiative steps) to the great 
interest involved, — in these noble efforts they are congratulated. The 
liberality which has been extended toward one who has recently traveled 
extensively in tlie investigation of the catalpa, is hereby thankfully ac- 
knowledged — with the well-founded hope, however, that while he has 
labored willingly and withcnit expectation of reward, the fav(jrs of these 
(;orpt)rations will be amply repaid to them, if they do but put into prac- 
tice the suggestions so freelv oflered bv their friend. 



Contributed by request of Mr. E. E. Barney, the disinterested patron of 
a useful tree, by one who lias long known it, who stood sponsor for it in 
185;}, and whose more intimate acquaintance onh' hightens his admira- 
tion for its excellent qualities. 

JOHN A. WARDER, M. I)., 

PresH Am. Forestry Association. 
North Bend, C)hio, Fe1). 2o, 1879. 



INTEREST KWG- LETTEE.S. 



Ralston Station, Texn., Feb. Jst, 1879. 
E. E. Barney, Dayton, O., 

Dear Sir: Your letter came duly to hand, and in reply would say that 
time alone can tell how long the catalpa wood used here will last; posts 
that were planted when the country was first settled, in 1810 to 1830, are 
yet sound, and show no sign of decay. If there are two varieties, there 
is but one here, at least I have never seen but one kind — the black bark 
variety, or 8peciosa, as some call it. It grows abundantly along the 01)ion 
River, attaining a girth of sixty to ninety inches, and sixty to seventy- 
five feet high. In open situations it does not grow so tall, but often 
reaches tlie height of forty feet, with a clear trunk of twenty feet; among 
other timber they will be clear of limbs three-fourths their height; have 
never seen one but what would split straight, at least comi)aratively so. 
Their peculiar hal)it is in rich river soil subject to ox ei-flow, but will grow 
on our high ridge lands, and will make astonishing growth. I have a 
s[)ecimen block from a tree fourteen years old, fourteen inches in diame- 
i<'r. Jt is strictly a forest tree, and is used for posts almost exclusively. 
All (he finest siKx-i mens have long since been used up, but nearly every 
stuini) has thrown up sprouts, some of them are now ten to twelve inches 
in diameter, and forty to sixty feet high. During the month of July it is 
attacked by a large black worm, perfectly harndess in its nature but a re- 
pulsive looking creature. If the tree is isolated it will often be completely 



29 

denuded of foliage, but, alon^i" the river, often one-lialf the trees escape 
their ravages entirely. Here people care nothing a1)Out cuhivating the 
catalpa, our ri(ige lands furnishing an abundance of Hrst-class post oak. 

But those living in the pi-airie States are greatly in their OM-n light if 
they df) not plant extensively of the catalpa. Its growth is extremely 
rapid, and its durability is beyond question; and, when grown close to- 
gether, ought to make the finest of timber trees. If one" wants a shade 
tree, there is none more beautiful ; if a post is wanted tliat will last for- 
ever, and then turn to stone, the catalpa will come nearer filling the bill 
than anvthinu' else. 

Yours respectfully, F. P. HYNDS. 



Port Lavaca, Caijioun Co., Texas, Feb. 5, '70-. 
E. E. Barney : 

JJear Sir: I ])lanted the catalpa seed I received of you last of March, 
very late for this latitude, still they grew from two to se'ven feet. I trans- 
planted them in nine months, and yet the roots were so long, many of 
them four to live feet, that I shall hereafter plant where I want the trees 
to stand, and thin out while very young, and replant where I wish them 
to stand. If I had let them remain till second year, I should have had a 
liard job to remove them. I think the catalpa is just wdiat we need here 
where timber is so scarce. D. W. HATCH. 



The Roadinaster of the Missouri River, Fort Scott c\i: Gulf 
H. R. makes the following report of trees planted; repoi't dated 
October 14, 1878: 

During November, 1877, tlie following varieties were set out: 

Oatalpas, 3 years old, 150 set out. Now- livuig, 150; are looking well, 
l)ut have made small grciwth. 

C'atali)as, 1 year old, 2,928 set out, — 2, 700 living; have grown 3 to 4 feet 
and look thrifty. 

Black walnut, 2,850 set out; 1,600 living; look sickly and have made 
slow progress. 

Chestnut, 2,050 set out, 1,214 living; look badly. 

Cherrv, 1,000 set out; 600 living; do not look well; have grown but 
little. 

White ash. 15.000 set out; 9,472 living; have grown 6 inches, but do not 
look thrifty. 

During 1878. 

Box elder, 2 years old, 1,012 set out; 944 livijig; have grown 12 inches. 

White walnut, 2 years old, 1,010 set out; 791 living; growth 2 inches; 
n(jt looking well. 

Catalpa, 2 years old, 2,600 set out; 2,449 living; have grown on an 
average 3 feet; look well. 

Catalpas, 1 year old, 8,355 set out; 8,100 living; have grown on an aver- 
age 2.J feet ; look thrifty. 

Pecan, vearlings, 1,000 set out; (Ul living; have urown 6 inches; look 
well. 

Osage orange, yearlings, 18,000 set out; 16,100 living; have grown (> 
inches and look well. 

Evergreens, 410 set out ; 50 black spruce living ; grown 5 inches ; look- 
ing well. 



80 

A hedge ot Osa.ac ()raiij2,e was ])lant('(l ar<»uii<l llu- rntii'c section, and is 
doing well. 

The eatal]>as have made the greatest improvement, especially the year- 
lings, and in my judgment it is economy in time and expense to plant 
none older than one year. The Osage orange tree does very well in this 
climate, but is of slow growth. 

I planted seeds enough last Spring to grow 30,000 plants; 5,000 came to 
maturity, and have grown from one to four feet. 

European larch all dead; do not think they will prosper in this climate. 

The box elders look well, but I do not know that they are of much 
value when grown. 

The catalpa has certainly proved to be the strongest grower and most 
tenacious, standing the dry weather better than other varieties, and at 
present rate wall come to maturity years before other varieties are of suf- 
ficient size to be of any utility. 

The evergreens planted w^ere too large, Ijeing 3 to 4 feet high, and the 
wind having such pressure on the large foliage, caused them to become 
loose in the ground, w'hich allowed the air to circulate around the roots, 
thereby killing them. 

A limited numl^er of ornamental trees would be desirable, aiid T think 
if verv small ones were set out thev would thrive. 

(Signed) " J. M. BUCKLEY, K. M. 

George H. Nettleton, Receiver of the road, writes that in 
November last, 128,000 more trees, purchaso'd by the president 
of the road, were being planted; of these, 100,000 were ratal pa. 
of the early blooming, Speeiosa, or hardy varii^ty. 

CATALPA IN ICE. 

A cor^'espondent of the Prairie Farmer, writing from Stillson, (Jherokee 
County, Kansas, says that region has been visited by a severe storm that 
loaded all the trees with ice. Many trees and shrubs, too tender to 
"stand the pressure," broke beneath the enormous weiglit of ice. "In 
the forests," says the writer, "the Lombardy i)oplars and the cotton 
woods suffered the most ; they are badh^ broken. The ground is well 
strewn with their tops and branches. The maples being more elastic, 
would bend without breaking. Some of them, twenty feet high, bent 
until their tops touched the ground. A row of Lombardy poplars along 
the road-side were so stripped of their branches and tops that they looked 
more like telegraph poles tlian trees. The catalj:)a seemed to be the only 
tree that escaped the injury. The weight of ice seemed to have no efiect 
on them. They neither break nor bend, in my forest, where they have 
grown tall and straight; they stand perfectly upright, while the trees all 
around them are bent or broken. The power to staiid up under such a 
great weight of ice is another thing that will recommend them as a tim- 
ber tree." 



The following letter from 1). Axtell, Sup't of tlic Missouri 
Division of the St. Louis, Iron Mountain i\: Southern Railway, 
is of much interest : 

ClIARLESTOX. Mo.. Fch. J;J, T.9. 

E. E. Barney : 

Dear Sir: There is nothing to indicate that the catalpa ties in our 
track, near Charleston, Mo., do not hold spikes sufficiently well. Nearly 
all the spikes are in the same holes originally made when driving them, 



31 

over ten years .ago. There has been no spreading of the track. I have 
examined the few ties the rails have settled into, and find none that will 
not last for a number of years yet by turning them over. These ties are 
six to eight inches face. If they were wider, as you suggest, there would 
be more resistance to crushing. With the joint fastenings now in use, I 
see no objections to making ties, as you propose, from logs twelve inches 
or more in diameter, by sawing them through the middle and i)lachig the 
round side down. The bearing surface would thus Ijc increased 50 to 100 
per cent. 

The section of catalpa log'- sent you was from a tree lying on the ground 
in a swamp, on a place owned by Mr. Henson, seven miles from Charles- 
ton. Mr. H. says when he moved on the place forty years ago, the tree 
was lying on the ground and looked as old as it does now. He says it 
must have then l)een h'ing there at least ten years, and })robably very 
much longer. 

Mr. Henson recently made three hundred and thirty fence posts from 
one catalpa tree. He also got some good split posts from catalpa trees six 
vears old. Yours respectfuUv, 

D. .\XTELL. 



The following letter from the Chicago Tribum' of May 21st, 
1878, should be carefully read and seriously pondered by all 
who regard the future welfare of our country. Every farmer 
who has even forty acres of land may do something, by tree 
planting, to avert the impending calamity so graphically de- 
scribed: 

FOREST-VANDALISM. 

Our Devastate]) Woodlands — A Canadian Merchant on thk United 
States Timuer Scpply — Vast Forests Want(X\ly Destroyed. 

The subjoined letter was received by the Hon. Davi<l A. Wells recently 
from Mr. James Little, a prominent lumber merchant of ^Montreal. Mr. 
i..ittle has investigated the lumber-producing regions ol" the United States, 
and he sets forth the result of his investigation witli clearness and candor. 
The result as fur as the older States are concerned is startling. Alread}- 
there are only four States among the twenty-six Xortli of the old slave 
line and East of the Rocky Mountains whose forests are callable of sup- 
plying lumber enough for transportation beyond the State limits. ]Mr. 
Little goes over the ground thoroughly in his letter, which should com- 
mend itself for its cond)in(Hl terseness and com})rehensiveness, and for 
the vital importance of its subject to all legislators and public-spirited 
citizens: 

Montukai., May 10, LS7S, 
Till-: Hon. David A. Wells: 

Sir: The deej) interest you are known to take in tJi<' subject of politi- 
cal economy and the freedom of trade induces nie to l)ring under your 
iu,)tice what is, beyond dispute, tlie most important (piestion in relation 



'•'This section of a catalpa iotj, now in my ottiee, is perfectly sound, showing no sign.s 
of decay, though it has laid on the ground certainly fifty years, possibly one hundred. 

E. E. B. 



32 

to the industries, necessities, and well-being of your people that has ever 
been presented for their consideration, namely, the question of the tini 
ber supply and consumption of the country, — a matter in which every 
individual, high and low, rich and poor, of your ffjrty nullious of people 
is interested. Being engaged in lumbering, — a business I have followed 
for close on half a century, mainly with the United States, — and witness- 
ing as 1 did how rapidly one extensive tim])er secti<m after another in 
Western Ontario, where 1 operated, was strii)})ed of its commerinal woods, 
my attention was necessarily drawn to an investigation of the sources 
and extent of the supply to meet the ever-increasing consumi)tion of both 
the United States and Canada. I now proceed to give the result of my 
researches in relation thereto, so far as the United States are concerned, 
as hrietly as the subject will admit. 

1 find of the t^^enty-six States comprising the New England, the Mid- 
dle, the Western, and Northwestern to the Rock\' Mountains, only four, 
namely, Maine, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota, are now al)le to 
furnish supplies bej'ond their own requirements, and 1 will novr point 
out the condition these States are reduced to touching their supply of 
building-timber, and how long they may be expected to stand the drain 
on their forests, at the rate of consumption going on, of this indispensal)le 
material. The State of Maine, which not long since could boast of most 
extensive pine forests, is now all but stripped of thnt valuable wood, and 
is besides so far denuded of its once-supj>osed inexhaustible supi)ly of 
spruce that the lumberers are forced to the headwaters and tributaries 
of every river in the State to hunt for supplies, and ar<' stocking their 
mills in a large measure with logs cut from sapling i)()les of from six to 
eight inches in diameter, and this reckless and wasteful slaughtering is 
carried on to sucii an extent to supply the neighl^oring States, and for 
shipment al)road, that a few years will find the people of that State with- 
out building timber, either pine or spruce, for their home consumption . 
The Northern sections of 3Iichigan, Wisconsin, and INIinnesota are the 
only localities of the whole twenty-six States that are al^le to furnish sup- 
plies of white pine beyond the wants of their own respective States, and 
the deman<l on them is so heavy for all sections of the country that it 
will not be })Ossil)le for them to respond to it for more than six or seven 
years longer. Their main streams are all stripped, and the lumberers 
are now operating at the head waters of their tributaries, where they are 
forced to bank many of their logs in dry gullies, de])ending on the win- 
ter's snow and spring rains to produce freshets sufhcient to float them to 
the main streams, and which often fail, as will he tlu^ case with many of 
them this season, for want of water to move them from where the loggers 
have hauletl tliem. A number of railways have also been built to secure 
the lund)er traffic of these timber sections; no less than six are now run- 
ning through every patch of tindjci' otherwise inaccessible to the loggers 
on the lower ])eninsula of ]Michiga/n, hitherto the gi-eatest lumber-supply- 
ing State of the Union, and the mill-owners themselves having, many of 
them, exhausted their timber within team-hauling distance, are busy at 
work building railways on their own account to enal)le them to reach 
what are now the outskirts of their once sup])osed inexhaustible timber 
resources. And here in tliese tind)er sections, and in the positions I have 
pointed out, is to be found the whole white i)ine su]>i>ly for the consump- 
tion of your whole country East of the Pacilic slope, and, were the whole 
of that supply brought to one point, it could all be covered Avith the i)alm 
of one's hand on an,y ordinary map of the United States; and yet, not- 
withstanding this state of the case, the lumberers keep slaughtering 
away as if life depended on how soon they conld rob the country of its 
timber wealth and bring about a timl)er famine, to the utter ruin of the 
wood industries of the country, in which every member of the (•om-> 



33 

mnnity is deeply interested. J^ot satisfied with the havoc- they arc mak- 
ing to keep their own markets eontinnany lai-gely overstocked/they have 
also made extensive prejjaralions b}' litting iii» tiicir mills for the mann- 
factnre of deals, to drive, as their hmii)er i)ai>ors boast they will, the 
Canadian sui)ply out of the British markets, and they are besides at work 
using up the best of their Avhite pine in tlie mannfacture of boardwood 
and s(]uare timber for the same markets, a course most destructive to tlie 
forests. In fact, lighting the candle at l)oth ends would fail to fitly de- 
scribe the utter recklessness and folly of their ])roi'eedings, — they are 
casting it bodily into the tire. 

We have theories and si)e(-ulations on the forests as influencing the 
rain-fall, and theii- value as reservoirs to keej) u}> a su])i)ly of water for 
your rivers, water-courses, and canals, and afioi-d |)Ower for niachinery, 
but who has given consideration to the consecjuences to your whole 
country of a dearth of tindjer? AMio of your statesmen has given liis 
mind to think on its effects on the 173,450 industrial establishments, and 
the 1,093,202 operatives, who, as shown by your census returns, as far 
back as 1870, are engaged therein, providing your i)eople Avith the finishe<l 
wood materials so indispensable to their well being? Who of the dele- 
gations from the Northwestern timber sections, tliat are now pi'aving 
Congress to prevent Canada from giving any assistance to prolong' the 
life of these industries, has t<iken into account the consequences of a 
failure in their tind)er supi)ly on the settlement of your bf)undless, tiee- 
less prairie country, or the (iei)rivations it will entail cm its inhal)itants, 
and the millions who are to make it their home? Who of your whole 
people has given hiujself the trouble to understand that it would require 
you to raise S500,000,000 to send abroad to j)urchase an amount of lum- 
ber equal to your present consumption for a single year, or that all tlu^ 
tonnage of the wh(jle world would fall far short of being able to freight 
it from your Pacific Territories to your Atlantic seaboard? The aggre- 
gated freighting capacity of the world is only about 1<S,000,000 of tons, 
while the 12,755,000,000 feet of hunber shown by your census returns of 
1870 tohave been snwn in 1809 would make a tonnage of 21,000,000, from 
whicli it W'ill be seen that, without taking into account the thousands of 
millions of shingles and the ndllions of feet of tind)er consumed at the 
same time, there is not tonnage enougli in existence to freight that single 
item of sawn lumber alone around Cai)e Horn, and how inadeciuate it 
would be to meet the shipping requirements for the whole consunq)tion 
of all kinds of building tind)er ancl wood for other industrial ])urp()ses of 
the present day, and how mucli more so by the time your i)resent stock 
is exhausted, with so many more millions of consumers to be supj)lie<l. 

And what have your authorities been doing to meet this state of thing>^? 
Have they been making piovision to keep up the supi)ly by tree-})lant- 
ing, as in Northern P^urope? Have they been husbanding* their forest 
wealth and preserving it from spoil and waste? On the contrary, liave 
they not been })rodigai in their efforts t(j get rid of it by making ])resents 
of it to corporations and disposing of it for a trifle of its value to indi- 
vidual speculators — one of whom, in the West, boasting that 1k^ owns 
three-fifths of the cork pine in jNIichigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota, and 
another in the Jv.ist, claiming to ])e the owner of over 500,000 acres of 
land selected for its tindjer value? Have they not been standing quietly 
by looking on at the extensive robberies comnntted on the i)ublic domain 
that have been carried on for years in the South and Northwest, by which 
not only the home-markets have been kept largely overstocked, to the 
injury of all legitimate operators, but the foreign markets as well have 
been kept glutted to such an extent that even the |)lunderers themselves 
received nothing for the timber, and but little for the labor expended in 
preparing it for market? And have they not, for the sole benefit of thesi^ 



:^4 

•(U)rporation.s and rtpeculatoi\s, and to tli(> injury of every other indivitlual 
of the eomniiinity, been forcing Oana<la to find markets abroad for lie r 
timber and lund^er by the imposition of duties? And are they not even 
now, with the ])resent concHtion of things staring them in the face, pre- 
paring a tariff in whicli the same obstructions are to be continued to pre- 
vent this country fi-om giving assistance to mitigate or protract to any 
■extent the inipenihng dehige so soon to sweej) over your whole country? 

From the utter indifference and negUntt with whicli this momentous 
question of the supjily and consumption of timber is treated liy your 
people, it might be supposed you could disjiense altogether with its\ise, 
or that you could reprocUice it as easily as raising a crop, or that you 
would have no difficulty in finding a sulistitute, ))ut it takes a century to 
grow a standard pine saw-log, and if there is a country on earth in a'})o- 
sition to do without or find a sul)stitute for timber, that country is Great 
Britain, and yet she increased her wood consumption at an average rate 
of 10 per cent, a yeai- for the last ten years', and last year, as shown by 
her trade n'turns, it was ;]] ])er cent, inore than in ISTo, and the imi)ort 
of that island, not half the area of your State of Texas, and being, as it 
were, thorouglily finished up throughout its wliole extent, showing no 
further room for imi)rovenients, amounted to no less than $10(),()()0,t)00. 
But large as that sum is, it is com])aratively small to what the United 
.States will soon yearly be (udlod on to suj>])ly for its own wood consuni})- 
tion, and it is not a luxury that can be thrown asi<le at ^^•ill; it is indis- 
])ensable to the national well-being. 

1 know that the imju-ession ])revails, and it is often stated ])y interested 
parties, that it matters little wliat is the condition of your "supi)lies, as 
you have but to look to Canada, where can be found "enough for the 
most exacting populations of the world for centuries," which is the state- 
ment usually made by those utterly ignorant of its true condition, or 
those who do so for a purpose ; and T will here assert from a personal 
knowl(Mlge of most of the timber sections of Canada, and trustworthy 
reports from others, that we nave not, from the fai-ofF Province of ]Mani- 
toba to the (lulf of St. Lawrence, as mu(di pine, spruce, hemlo(;k, oak, 
ash, elm, whitewood, and other commercial woods as would sup})ly the 
whole consumption of the Cnited States for a ])eriod of three years", and 
thewhole accessilile pine localities have besides been run over to such 
an extent for such pine and board wood timber as would pay to shii>, 
that many of our lumberers have been forced to seek for these descrip- 
tions of wood goods to supply the English demand in your Northwestern 
timber territories, where they may now be found cutting down on an 
average three trees to get one stick, and leaving the others, fi'om some 
trifling defect, to rot in the woods, — a waste of this valuable material that 
you can ill afford. I will further venture the ])redi(!tion that the near 
future will reveal such a state of things in regard to the timber question 
as will bring your (xoverninent fully to realize it would have been a wise 
polic;y on its part to have ]~>aid a Ijonus for the iinjiortation of our lumber, 
if ])y such means it could have been saved for the use of your people, 
than the course it has adopted in driving it away to foreign markets by 
the imposition of duties to any amount. 

The first of the timber famine will begin to ]>e felt in the next three or 
four years, and will be fully reached throughout the Kastern, ^Middle, 
Western, and Northwestern States in the short period of six or seven 
years, if the i)resent wasteful (bourse is kei)t up; and when the pitch ])ine 
oi the South, a <lescription of wood unsuitcMl for many }>ur]K)ses, is called 
<m to supi)ly the whole consum])tion, all the building and sawdog timber 
from the Eastern boundary of Maine to the Ro(.'ky Mountains and the 
<Tulf of Mexico will be swei)t away in as short a time as has passed since 



35 

the close of the war with the South, — a mere moment in the future of 
your country. 

I have, 8ir, here endeavored to give you some idea of the state an.d ex- 
tent of your timher resources, and the ruinous consequences sure to fol- 
low and ho felt throughout the length and breadth of your entire country 
when a failure in the supply which a few short years will bring about is 
reached, and am, sir, Respectfully Yours, 

JAMES LITTLE. 



I do not think Mr. Little at all overestimates the annual 
consumption of lumber or the rapidity with which our country 
is being donuled of its forests, or the impending calamity 
resulting therefrom, if no means are taken to avert it. The 
annual consumption of my own manufactory is over 10,000,000 
feet, and U is but one, and by no means the largest of the 
175,000 referred to by him, over our w hole country, as consum- 
ing our forests all the day long and all the year round, that 
have been tlu^ growth of the last 100 to 500 years. 

One means of averting this calamity is the extensive yearly 
planting of well selected forest trees. I have urged the culti- 
vation of eatal})a, believing it will give the largest return in 
the shortest time. Its economic uses are more varied and 
•extensive than any one tree with which I am acquainted. 

If I had a grove of common catalpa that would not be affect^nl 
])y the frost, I should certainly let them grow. If I wished to 
])lant a grove of catalpa, above or below the frost line, I would 
most (tertainly plant only the Speeiosa variety, as clearly 
bettei" adapted to forest culture. 

1 by no means ignore the fact that thure are other valuable 
trees for forest culture — notably the wliite walnut or butternut, 
l)lack \vali\ut, yellow locust, red and black mulberry, Osage 
<)range, aihmtlius, cherry, ash, oak, and many others, of the 
r('S])eetive merits of which I leave others to speak. 

At till' time I printed my first pamphlet I was under the 
impression that the examples of durability given were mostly, 
if not wholly, common catalpa. As it beeame more and more 
a])par(Mit, on further investigation, that the Speeiosa variety 
Avas much pref(nable for forest planting, I felt it to be of the 
greatest im])ort nee to know, beyond any question, that this 
variety was ('(pi ally durable. 

T therefore^ arranged with Mr. Jno. C. Teas, of Carthage, Mo., 
a liorti(uilturist who had been familiar with the common and 
Speeiosa variety for thirty years, to visit those localities in 
the West wlu^re the catalpa was known to be indiginous, and 
make a thorough investigation as to the durability of the 
♦Speeiosa and all other matters of interest pertaining thereto. 
IL' obtaincMJ much valuable information; the full report of 
which, si(dxness, I regret to say, has prevented his preparing 
in time for this pamphlet. His letters establish beyond any 



36 

question the durability of the Specio^a variety, indeed all 
the numerous examples of durability were found to be all 
Speciosa, and that it was the only variety found in tlie forests 
of Illinois, Missouri and Arkansas. 

December 2, '78, he writes from New Madrid: "Two import- 
ant facts are clearly esta})lished, viz. : that tlie speciosa catalpa 
grows wild, or native, in its pure and perfect (listinetiveness, 
at various points along the Mississippi River, not to speak of 
other localities not yet explored; and secondly, that its timl)er 
possesses the wonderful durability for which the catalpa lias 
become so noted. Just now a new^ idea occurs to me. May it 
not be possible that the catalpa growing east and south-east 
are what we call common, and all the wild ones west sj)eciosa? 

"As the trees in cultivation have nearly all been distributed 
by the nurseries, or grown from seed of trees so distributed, 
and as in nursery work, as in other matters, it is ' westward 
the star of empire,' (tc, it is hardly to be wondered at that 
the eastern vai'iety should have covered t\iv east half of the 
continent before the difference and great superiority of the 
western was recognized." 

The more I thought of the matter, the more its importance 
grew upon me, and I felt so important a question should be 
established by the testimony of at least two unimpeachable 
witnesses. 1 therefore also arranged with Dr. J no * . Warder, 
President of the American Forestry Association, — and who, in 
1853, had, with Mr. Teas, christened this variety Speciosa, — 
to make a full investigation of the same subject. The rail- 
roads, deeming the matter of sufficient public importance, 
promptly furnished passes to both. 

Dr. Warder's investigations confirm Mr. Teas' in every par- 
ticular as to durability of the Speciosa, and establishes the^ 
fact that it is the only variety of catalpa native to the forests, 
also of Indiana, Western Kentucky and Tennessee, as well as 
Illinois, Missouri and ArkansiJ^--im4~-tiiat it is unmistakably 
a w(istern tree, having cle;Hl!^y di:^fiiv}d AUTtl^^i^'ll marked char- 
acteristics that are uniforlnty transmitted iij ike seed. 

His report, condensed for fliTs parHf)hU>^y..ljom\a much fulhtr 
and more elaborate one, vVill be fouiid oil' ^^nage if. 

The facts that S(;em to be so clearly established by Mr. Teas 
and Dr. Warder's investigations are exceedingly important 
and interesting to the botanist and the practical forest tree- 
planter, and richly }>ay for all the time and money expended 
in obtaining them, and the gratitude of the wliole country is 
due the two indefatigable workers who, through great labor 
and much personal dis(^omfort, have obtained them. 

If what 1 have printed shall incite to an increased interest 
in forest tree-planting, 1 shall be amply remunerated for all 
time and money expended. E. K. B. 



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